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Mass. police officer on leave after drunk driving arrest
William Kearney, an officer in Westborough, was arrested Friday night, according to court records.
A Massachusetts police officer is on administrative leave after he was arrested for allegedly driving drunk with his loaded, department-issued firearm in the vehicle, according to court records.
William Kearney was arraigned Monday in Westborough District Court on charges of operating under the influence of liquor, carrying a firearm while intoxicated, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and marked lanes violation.
According to court records, Kearney — an officer with the Westborough Police Department — was arrested Friday night in Northborough. According to the report filed by Northborough police, the arresting officer allegedly observed the vehicle crossing over the yellow double lines before pulling Kearney over.
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“Kearney showed signs and symptoms of impairment” in their exchange, including bloodshot and glossy eyes and slurred speech, according to the arresting officer.
“He admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages earlier in the evening, and there was a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage coming from his mouth as we spoke,” the officer wrote.
Kearney allegedly failed the first two field sobriety tests and passed the third. According to the report, his blood alcohol reading in the field was .153 percent, almost twice the legal limit of .08.
He was arrested, and while he was being booked, he told Northborough police his department-issued firearm was in the glove box of his car, asking them to lock it. Police found the gun loaded with one round in the chamber, according to police.
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“The firearm was made safe and unloaded,” Northborough police said.
Additional blood alcohol readings after his arrest were recorded as .17 and .166, police said.
Kearney pleaded not guilty during his arraignment on Monday. His attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday evening.
Kearney has reportedly been a member of the Westborough Police Department since 2018.
Westborough Police Chief Todd Minardi said in a statement that Kearney has been placed on paid administrative leave “pending the resolution of the criminal case and internal investigation.”
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